James Baquet

With Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia is the third of the Baltic states, so-called for their location along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean which also touches Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Poland and Germany.

“Baltic states” does not imply linguistic unity. Estonian is more closely related to Finnish than to Latvian or Lithuanian (which are closely related). Nor does it imply cultural affinities. Again, as the language would indicate, Estonian culture is closer to Finnish than to the other Baltic states. In short, of the three, Estonia has the most Nordic sense of identity.

Nevertheless, the three Baltics have entered into intergovernmental agreements on such matters as trade and security.

Finland lies north across the Gulf of Finland (a branch of the Baltic Sea); Sweden lies west across the Baltic itself; Latvia is to the south; and Russia to the east, with Lake Peipus astride much of the border. In addition to the mainland, Estonia boasts a suspiciously symmetrical-looking number of islands in the Baltic Sea, 2,222 in total.

Inhabited for over 11,000 years, the country was one of the last in Europe to abandon paganism and become Christian, in the 13th century. Estonia was dominated by its larger neighbors — the Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles and Russians — until its own distinct identity began to emerge in just the last couple of centuries. This movement culminated in Estonia’s independence from the Russian Empire at the end of World War I.

After a period of democracy, Estonia fell under authoritarian rule until becoming a Soviet Socialist Republic in 1940. The country suffered at the hands of both Russia and Germany during World War II, losing about a quarter of its population due to death, deportation and evacuation. It also lost about 5 percent of its territory to Russia.

Although the country was no longer independent, a government-in-exile was formed, the legitimacy of which much of the Western world recognized, until true independence was again achieved in 1991.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. while living outside of one’s native land

2. give up, let go of

3. balanced, even on either side

4. related to language

5. resulted, ended up

6. in a way that causes one to think a trick has been played

7. lying on either side of

8. being officially removed from a country

9. non-Christian religion

10. moving from a place to avoid danger